My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Eucomis

It is part of the Hyacinth Family. The flowers grow from a 8-10cm deciduous, summer growing bulb. The cylindrical inflorescence (peduncle) is at the end of a thick waxy stalk, crowded with up to 130 star shape flowers with a tuft of leaf-like bracts at the tip.

My Growing Gratitude design with a tray woven from green passion fruit vines and single eucomis flowers and "pumpkins" made from sticks and autumn leaves

Common name

Pineapple flowers or pineapple lilies, the Afrikaans names for the flowers are Wildepynappel or Krulkoppie and the Zulu name is Umathunga

Origin

South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Also North America and Euro Asia

Varieties

Eleven species are available

Colors

White, yellowish-green, coral to deep pink

Vase life

The bulb plants will bloom for a few weeks or last up to 14 days in a vase. The seeds and fruits that form on the stem will also last up to 30 days in a vase.

Scent

Sweet floral

Uses

Great showy flower spikes and has become fashionable in contemporary designs to insert a single flower into a design

Conditioning

Condition in deep cool water with added bulb flower food.

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Thank you.